Artistic research in the semiconductor laboratory Media archaeologist Louise Ward Morris is the latest guest artist at the Science and Art Lab at TU Braunschweig

Sometimes art begins where you least expect it: in the middle of a university laboratory, between LED and laser technology. This is exactly where British-Spanish artist Louise Ward Morris has found her place at the Nitride Technology Centre (NTC) at Technische Universität Braunschweig. In spring 2026, she will be artist-in-residence at the Science and Art Lab at TU Braunschweig for three months. This was preceded by an international open call, which received more than 50 applications from all over the world. Louise Ward Morris is the second guest artist to follow filmmaker Mareike Bernien, who conducted artistic research at the QuantumFrontiers Cluster of Excellence in 2024/25.

Morris’s work deals with questions that tie in with current research on nitride semiconductor technology, while also opening up unusual perspectives for science. It was this that convinced the jury, comprising leading figures from the art world, to select the artist, who primarily works as a sculptor. The jury shortlisted candidates from the more than 50 international submissions. Following a meeting between artists and researchers to discuss scientific and artistic approaches, the NTC team selected Louise Ward Morris.

Even before her residency began, the artist travelled to Braunschweig. There, she met several researchers and visited laboratories and clean rooms. The detailed residency phase is planned for spring 2026 and will last three months. During this time, Louise Ward Morris will collaborate with scientists in the laboratory and further develop her artistic project. Although the artist residency primarily focuses on open exchange between disciplines rather than the production of a work of art, Louise Ward Morris intends to create a piece that makes use of the scientific environment and equipment of the laboratories.

The media archaeologist

She describes herself as a “media archaeologist” and combines technology, art and science in her projects to explore the impact of modern technology on our communication and perception. She often uses discarded everyday technology, such as mobile phones or screens, as source material, thereby addressing issues such as repair culture, the short lifespan of technology and electronic waste.

This collaboration with researchers in Braunschweig is not the first time Morris has worked with organisations outside the art world. Previous projects have seen her collaborate with chemistry laboratories at York University and the Universitat de Barcelona, the TV manufacturer Cello Electronics, and an LED screen recycling centre, among others.

As part of her most extensive project to date, which has focused on the history, technology and culture of the LCD screen since 2023, Louise Ward Morris has been perfecting a technique for producing liquid crystals to create sculptural screens. The LCD screen brings together art and technical research. Although this device has become familiar to us and is associated with recent technological history, it is clear that it consists of the oldest components of the universe: light and energy.

Science and Art Lab

The Science and Art Lab at Technische Universität Braunschweig brings together cutting-edge research and art in its various forms of expression and encourages dialogue between the two disciplines. The aim is to facilitate different approaches to research questions and encourage an exchange between science, art, and society.

Nitride Technology Centre

The Nitride Technology Centre (NTC) is driving forward the development of nitride semiconductor technology as the second pillar of microelectronics. A key aspect of this is leveraging the sustainability potential of nitride technology, which offers high luminosity with low power consumption. Furthermore, the NTC is combining gallium nitride components with conventional silicon microelectronics to bundle performance and innovative strength, thus opening up completely new fields of application, such as optical sensor technology, optical neuromorphic computing, artificial intelligence, and new display technologies for augmented reality glasses.